Charles Schwab

Challenge

The Mutual Funds Technology Group at Charles Schwab needed a test automation tool that would allow time for more comprehensive testing and results verification. A comphrehensive testing solution was required for its mainframe CICS mutual funds trading application, the core of its mutual funds processing, as well as other CICS, client server and web-based applications.

Testing the trading of mutual funds is complex. There are about 40 different criteria for Customer Accounts (IRA, Corporate, Country Code, etc.) and about as many different criteria for the mutual funds being traded for those accounts (investment category, trading service codes, tax type, fee type, etc.). In addition, there are multiple values within each criterion. Even though Schwab had broad coverage for regression testing their Mutual Funds Order Entry System (MOES), new enhancement and maintenance projects demanded special emphasis for specific testing requirements. Developing the exponential number of cases for these specific requirements was increasingly laborious and time consuming.

Solution

They began searching for a tool that was faster for developing automation and one with features to manage test cases and the automation scripts as well. They also wanted one tool that could test across the various trading channels that resided on different application platforms and different operating systems. The scripting tool they had been using required extensive programming and maintenance - they had written over 9,000 lines of code to test the MOES application and it was only about 50% complete.

The Mutual Funds Technology Group initiated an industry search to identify a tool to meet their requirements. Some of the more widely used products (such as AutoTester, Robot, Silk and WinRunner) were eliminated because they were primarily programming or scripting tools. While these are solid development testing tools, they did not offer Schwab a solution that overcame the traditional issues of writing code and programming.

They obtained the necessary approval for a three-month research and development project to determine if Worksoft Certify met their requirements. The results were instant. Instead of needing weeks and months to prepare and execute thousands of test cases, they used Worksoft Certify to create an entire test system, complete with verification, in just a few weeks. Not only was he able to develop automation more quickly and easily, but he also increased test coverage more than ever before.

Results

The Mutual Funds Technology Group found that Worksoft Certify replaced the need for programming logic with point and click actions.  Plus, the design of Worksoft Certify included managing automated processes as well as managing test cases. 

Schwab replaced the previous system of 9,000+ lines of scripting instructions with the structure of Worksoft Certify and about 450 Worksoft Certify actions. The productivity gain was clear— maintaining 450 Actions vs. the previous 9000 lines of code required much less time and effort. An ongoing benefit was obvious; subsequent test development would have the same advantage of the Worksoft Certify structured approach.

"Worksoft Certify requires no programming. All Worksoft Certify Actions are structured this way. The programming to actually execute each Action is already done for you."

"...But, Worksoft Certify is actually easier than that. After my two-hour training session students are empowered. They have the confidence and skill to develop their own individual test cases. Worksoft Certify continues to be used and appreciated in the Mutual Funds Technology Group and by testers and developers in other Charles Schwab organizations as well."